Method for automatic extrapolation of designs across apparel and accessory sizes and types

ABSTRACT

This invention solves the problem of porting a custom design to different sizes of apparel, or between different types of products without losing the key shape or form of the design. Using existing methods, a direct scaling of the design or image between sizes or product types is not possible because the apparel sizes vary widely between sizes and vary more horizontally than vertically. In such cases, the design loses aspect ratio and the image is distorted or partly cut off on the end manufactured product. That makes it necessary to design individually for each size or type of product. This invention describes a computer implemented method that solves the problem of automating the extrapolation of designs from one size to another and from one product type to another, without losing the visual essence of the original design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the automation of design extrapolation across apparel pattern pieces, wherein a design made for a pattern set at a particular size (example: Man's Size M, T-shirt) is extrapolated to other sizes of the same pattern set (example: size XS, L, XL) or to pattern sets of a different product (Example: Size M of Woman's T or to a Backpack)

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application references the patent application “USING UV UNWRAPPING TO CREATE MANUFACTURING PATTERNS FOR CUSTOM PRINTS” application number 14046010, filing date Apr. 10, 2013 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims 2 and 3 utilize the methods of design extrapolation detailed in this invention and apply it to the method of UV extraction detailed in the cross-referenced invention

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention outlines a method for completely automating the extrapolation of designs across patterns, wherein a design made for a pattern set at a particular size (example: Man's Size M, T-shirt) is extrapolated to other sizes of the same pattern set (example: size XS, L, XL) or to pattern sets of a different product (Example: Size M of Woman's T or to a Backpack)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: An example of a full-bleed design (designs that span seams)

FIG. 2: A design that has been directly scaled

FIG. 3: A design made on size M and automatically extrapolated to other sizes using the method described in this invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The concept of creating custom designs and prints on apparel is as old as human creativity. However, with mass manufacturing and desire for coordinated designs, a designer or consumer is forced to create a custom design for each size of the apparel they desire.

This is due to the fact the actual size of the apparel can vary widely from one size to another. This is not a problem if the design is only on the front or the back—one can just leave the additional area blank, but is a problem when the design spans seams (full-bleed designs). FIG. 1 (#101) shows an example of a design that spans seams.

To make matters more complex, most apparel grow much more horizontally, than vertically across sizes and scye curvature also varies with size. For example, from XS to 2XL, the width may increase by as much as 16 inches, but the height may only increase by 4 inches.

Therefore, a direct scaling of image will cause it to lose aspect ratio and make the image look “squished” and unnatural, making it necessary for the designer or consumer to design individually for each size. FIG. #2 (102) shows a design that has been directly scaled. Notice how the image loses its aspect ration and looks “squished”.

However, due to the way we perceive images, certain transformations to images will not be readily apparent to the human vision. This invention makes use of this and other heuristics to outline a method for solving this problem and completely automating the extrapolation of designs from one size to another and from one product to another, without losing the essence of the original design!

In one embodiment of this invention, the design made for a pattern set at a particular size (example: Man's Size M, T-shirt) is extrapolated to another sizes of the same pattern set (example: size XS, L or XL), using the formula:

[Sx=max(dX,dY), Sy=max(dX,dY), Tx=cX, Ty=cY] when scaling UP

AND

[Sx=min(dX,dY), Sy=min(dX,dY), Tx=cX, Ty=cY] when scaling DOWN

In the above formula:

dX =delta X (difference in X as %) between the two pattern sizes and

dY =deltaY (difference in Y as %) between the two pattern sizes and

cX & CY are the “adjust to center” translations for the original image

Notice how the Sx and Sy are kept the same to preserve aspect ration, but other adjustments are made to cover the new pattern size and also retain the original design.

In another embodiment of the invention, wherein, dY >dX and dY-dX <=10%, or dX >dY and dX-dY <=5%, we can take advantage of the difference in human perception of horizontal and vertical scaling and use the formula:

[Sx=dX, Sy=dY, Tx=cX, Ty=cY]

In another embodiment, and the best method of extrapolation, each element in the original design (layer, images, text, etc instead of the final composite) are individually modified as follows:

Translate each element's (Tx,Ty) to (Tx*dX +cX, Ty*dY +cY) and

Scale all elements by max(dX,dY) or min(dX,dY) and adjust to center Certain elements like Text & Patterns can skip the Scaling step to retain the original representation.

As a special case, wherein the design consists only of colors and regular patterns like stripes and plaids, the first finished pattern itself can be directly scaled to

[Sx=dX, Sy=dY]

As yet another special case, wherein, the full background image has a ratio of image size to pattern size of greater than 20%, no scaling or translation is required.

To extrapolate an image across products (example: Man's Size M, T-shirt) to the pattern sets of a different product (example: Woman's Size XL T-shirt or to a Backpack), the above formula has to be adjusted as follows:

dX =dX * pX and

dY =dY * pY

where (pX, pY) are the X and Y ratio between the pattern sizes of the two products we are translating between.

FIG. 3 (#103) shows the design made on Size M, automatically extrapolated to other sizes of the pattern set using the method described above. 

I claim:
 1. A method for taking a design made for an apparel pattern at a particular size and automatically extrapolating the design to other graded sizes of the same pattern set whose grading rules are non-linear, comprising the following steps: Obtaining a Delta factor for Width and Height respectively, from the pattern grading rules, as a ratio, for the two sizes being translated between and Performing certain affine transformation on the original design based on the value and nature of the Delta Factors as a general case, and based on the type of design or image as a special case and Automatically using the transformed design with the graded patterns to create the new manufacturing pattern set that can be used to manufacture the apparel or accessory at the new size.
 2. A method as recited in 1, wherein the design is created interactively on a real or simulated 3D model of an apparel or accessory at a particular size and automatically extrapolated to other sizes.
 3. A method as recited in 1, wherein each element in the original design, instead of the final composite, are individually transformed using different affine transformations based on the nature of the element (Text, Image, Pattern, etc)
 4. A method as recited in 1, wherein the design is automatically extrapolated from the pattern set of one product type to a completely different product type, comprising of the same steps, but wherein the Delta factor additionally incorporates the ratio of Width and Height between the two products types being translated between. 